Text 31
kṛṣṇasya garbha-jagato ’ti-bharāvasannaṁ
pārṣṇi-prahāra-parirugna-phaṇātapatram
dṛṣṭvāhim ādyam upasedur amuṣya patnya
ārtāḥ ślathad-vasana-bhūṣaṇa-keśa-bandhāḥ
kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; garbha — in whose abdomen; jagataḥ — is found the entire universe; ati-bhara — by the extreme weight; avasannam — fatigued; pārṣṇi — of His heels; prahāra — by the striking; parirugna — shattered; phaṇā — his hoods; ātapatram — which were like umbrellas; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; ahim — the serpent; ādyam — the primeval Lord; upaseduḥ — approached; amuṣya — of Kāliya; patnyaḥ — the wives; ārtāḥ — feeling distressed; ślathat — disarrayed; vasana — their clothing; bhūṣaṇa — ornaments; keśa-bandhāḥ — and the locks of their hair.
When Kāliya’s wives saw how the serpent had become so fatigued from the excessive weight of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who carries the entire universe in His abdomen, and how Kāliya’s umbrellalike hoods had been shattered by the striking of Kṛṣṇa’s heels, they felt great distress. With their clothing, ornaments and hair scattered in disarray, they then approached the eternal Personality of Godhead.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Kāliya’s wives had been disgusted with their husband because of his demoniac activities. They had been thinking, “If this atheist is killed by the punishment of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then let him be killed. We will become widows and engage in the worship of the Supreme Lord.” But then the ladies noticed Kāliya’s facial expression and other bodily features, and they understood that Kāliya had indeed taken shelter of the Lord within his mind. Seeing that he was manifesting symptoms of humility, remorse, regret and doubt, they thought, “Just see how fortunate we are! Our husband has now become a Vaiṣṇava. Therefore we must now endeavor to protect him.” They felt affection for their repentant husband and severe distress because of his miserable position, and thus all together they went into the presence of the Supreme Lord.